Shoe treeing and shaping machine



March 12, 1940. H. E. DOW El 111. 2,193,191

SHOE TREEING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JWaW w W:

March 12, 1940. ow ETAL 2,193,191

SHOE TREEING AND SHAPING MACHINE Fiied Oct. 26, 1938 z Sheets-Sheet 2 A //WE/vm/ 5 JW 05 W 222';

March 12, 1940. E, pow 5 AL 2,193,191

SHOE TREEING AND SHAPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1938 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 9& NA

//v VE/V TURF.-

MZfb- PatentedMar. 12, 1940,

it IT D stare F'Fl CE mist a 2,193,191 SHOE TREEING AND SHAPING MACHINE Harry E; Dow and Irving B. Andrews; Beverly,

Mass, assignors, .to United Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Borough-f Flemington, N. J., a

corporation of New Jersey Application'october 26, 1938, Serial-No. 237,128 21 Claims. (01. 12-51) T This inventionz-relatesto machines'for making shoes and more particularly to a: machine for treeing and shaping shoes.

After the lasting operations havebeen com pleted and the last is removed from a shoe, the

shoeis ready for the treeing and shaping 0perationsowhich impart to it ishe ment-a-1: Heretofore, those: operations .have been carried out separately and on different machines.

Usually the shoe is first mounted onv atree leg of a,

the tree leg to dry whilesimilar operations are i being carried out on another .:treed :shoe, after:

which the firstisho-e is brushed and removed from the machine, @and, in the caseof some shoes such as pumps, for example, the width of. the iootreceiving shoeopeningis reduced in the 1 pressing. operation so that the top of theshoe will hug the foot of the wearer, and in the same operation the opening is :given a somewhatsyznmetrical appearance that is pleasing to the eye.

39 It is'an object, of this invention to provide a machine wherein-both the treeing and theshaping operations; may be carriedxtoutwithout removing a shoe from the machine and thereby save the timeswhichhas heretofore been used 5 changing aLshOe "from one machine to the other... To this end. the inventionzprovides a machine comprisingca shoe tree which is'mounted for movement abetweenia treeing a shaping position; and shoe pressingmeans ar- 40 ranged for shaping engagement. with a? shoei'o-n the shoe ;tree when :the tree is in the shaping position. This construction. makes it possible both to tree and to shape 'alshoe without removing itirom theshoe tree, andin additionalso 45 provides an arrangement whereby, a shoewhich has been dampened in the treeing operation may simultaneously be dried and shaped as the shoe. will be. drying while it is. being pressedloy the pressing means. i 50 As a further feature of this invention means are provided in the machine for utilizing an operators time when the shoe tree is in the shaping position. prises another shoe tree which is also .mounted as for movement between the treeing position and a ppearance before it is packed for shipposition and As illustrated, this means com.

shapingiposition, the disposition of the shoe trees being such that when one shoe tree is ina shaping position the other will 'be' in the treeing position thus making it possible for an operatorto carry out treeingop-erations on a shoe'on one shoe tree while a shoe on the other shoe tree is beingcr'dried and shaped.

In accordance withanotherfeatureof this invention, there is illustrated an improved mechanism for pressing and shaping shoe'uppers. In the illustrated embodiment of; this feature of the invention, the mechanism comprises shoe pressing means and a tree leg mounted for movement into and out of a shaping position where it may be engaged by the pressing means, the tree leg givea shoea restricted opening of pleasing appearance, and provided with heating means arranged to apply heat to a shoe-upper adjacent to the top opening thereof 'to facilitate the shaping and drying of a shoe on the form.

15 comprising an expansible shoe form shaped to l Invention is also to be recognized in the novel construction of the extensible shoeform where-w by the sides ofa shoe on the shoeform are heated and supported throughout their length regard-:1

lessof the adjustment of the shoe form, and

without distorting the shape of the shoe opening. With the :above andother objects in view, the

invention will now be described in reference to machine and showingoneof the shoe trees in the treeing position and the other located between one section of the shoe shaping pads;

also in the shape of the heel section of the shoe form whichadapts it for removal from ashoe Fig. 255 a side elevationof the machine, partly I sin section,-taken along the line IIII of 1;

Fig.3 is a view on a reduced scale of one of the 'expansib-le shoe formsused in the illustrated machine, and .is broken away and in section to illustrate the expanding means;

Fig.4 is a View taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 showing a cross-section of the forepart of the shoe form and. also illustrating the connectio-ns between the forepartand'the remainder of the form;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, taken along theline V-V of Fig. l, of a portionof the right tree leg and showing the upper of a shoe on the shoe form being pressed between the presser members; I

Fig. 6 isa View taken along the line VI-VI of Fig.1 showing a portion of the actuating mechanism for the shoe pressing means, and

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 5.

The illustrated machine is of the type shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 442,034, granted December 2, 1890, upon application of A. E. Fowler, to which Letters Patent reference may be had for a description of parts of the machine not herein fully shown or described.

The illustrated machine comprises a bench I2 (Fig. 2) having an extensible standard I4 which carries a forwardly extending bearing plate I6 that has a semi-circular upright flange I8. The flange I8 has a central opening in which is slidably mounted a plunger 20 that controls the expansion of the shoe forms as will be explained fully hereinafter, the plunger 20 being moved inwardly to expand the shoe forms by a lever 22 which is actuated by a foot lever 24 through a connecting link 26. The bearing plate It is provided with a pivot stud 28 upon which is rotatably mounted a turret 30 (Figs. 1 and 2) having two hollow arms 32, 34 in which are journaled tree legs 36, 38. The swinging movement of the turret 30 is limited by a pair of stops 4!], 42 on the support plate I6 which are so located in the path of movement of 9. lug 44 on the turret 30 that when the lug is in engagement with one or the stops, one or the other of the tree legs will be positioned centrally of the machine where the treeing operations may conveniently be carried out by the operator. Each of the tree legs includes an expansible shoe form which is controlled by a reciprocating rod 46 (Fig. 1) having a collar 48 on its inner end which is slidably mounted in the inner end of the hollow turret arm. The reciprocating rod 46 is connected to the plunger 2!] by a cup shaped sleeve 55 which is slidably mounted on the rod 46 (Fig. 1) and a spring 54 interposed between the sleeve 50 and the collar 48, the sleeve 50 having a depending arm 5I (Fig. 2) in which is mounted a roller 52 that is engaged by the plunger 20 when the tree leg is in the central treeing position. Thus, inward movement of the plunger 20 is transmitted to the rod 46 by the sleeve 54 and the spring 54. The rod 46 is urged outwardly by a spring 59 which is sleeved 0n the rod between a plug 60 threaded in the inner end of the tree leg and a collar 62 fast to the rod. The forward ends of the hollow arms 32 and 34 are provided with longitudinal slits 53 (Fig. 2) and the shoe trees are clamped in different rotative positions by clamping wheels 54 or 55 mounted on the respective arms. The trees are held against longitudinal movement in the hollow arms by studs 56 or 5'! (Figs. 1 and 2) which are seated in peripheral grooves 58 formed on the inner ends of the treeing legs. The structure so far described is similar to that disclosed in the above-mentioned patent to Fowler.

As the shoe trees are similar to one another only one of them will be described in detail and like parts in both shoe trees will be given the same reference characters. The shoe tree consists of an upper leg portion 66 (Fig. 1) and a lower leg portion Ill, the inner end of the upper leg portion being attached to the hollow turret sleeve 32 by pins 61 and the other end of the upper leg portion being flared outwardly and provided with an electrical terminal box 68 having projecting brushes 80. The lower leg portion it is provided with an extension 72 on its inner end which is journaled in the hollow arm 32 of the turret 30 and has mounted on its outer end an expansible shoe form I4 which is provided with an electrical heating unit I6. To supply the heating unit 16 with current in all of the rotative positions of the tree leg, the lower leg portion ll] is provided with an outwardly extending dished housing TI in which are mounted collector rings I8 disposed in a path of the brushes as depending from the terminal box 68 (Fig. l); the collector rings being connected with the heating unit It by a cable I9.

To assist in attaining that object of the invention, which relates to reducing the width of the top opening of a shoe and giving it a pleasing appearance, the section of the shoe form I4 contiguous to the shoe opening is given the shape which it is desired to have the shoe take. In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, this shape comprises a curve of short radius (Fig. '7) at the rear or heel end, a curve of larger radius at the throat and straight sides interconnecting the ends of these curves, the sides being nonparallel and diverging toward the front. sides also slope inwardly in a heightwise direction (Figs. 4 and 5) in the area adjacent to the top edge of a shoe.

The expansible shoe form I4 (Fig. 3) consists of a rear portion 82 which is attached to the tree leg 36 and a forepart 84 that is slidably mounted on the rear. portion 82 and is operatively connected with the reciprocating rod 46. The forepart 84 consists of a wooden form (Fig. 3) having a central groove in which is fastened a metal channel strip 86 shaped to slide on the T-head 92 (Fig. 4) of a carrier I00, the metal channel strip extending beyond the rear end of the form 84 and the extending portion having an opening therein for engagement with a latch 90 on the head 92 (Figs. 3 and 4). The carrier I00 is provided with flanges 94 and 96 which are slidably received in grooves formed in the rear portion 82 (Fig. 4) and is moved back and forth in those grooves by the reciprocating rod 46 which is connected to the carrier me by a gear train that consists of (Fig. 3) a rack 41 on the rod 46, pinion I 02, gear segment 98 and rack IilI on the carrier I00. With the abovearrangement the tree legs are adapted to cooperate with a range of sizes as foreparts of different sizes may readily be interchanged by releasing the latch 90 and removing one forepart and replacing it with another of a different size.

To support the top edge of shoe uppers back of the throat portions, metal plates I04, I06 are provided on the shoe forms which extend from the forepart 84 back about half way to the heel. These plates are slidably mounted on tracks Hi8, IIU (Fig. 3) in recesses on the sides of the rear portion 82 of the shoe form and are connected with the gear segment 98 for movement with the forepart 84 by a pin H4 which is mounted on the gear segment with its ends seated in recesses H2 (Fig. 4) in the plates I04, I06. Thus, the metal plates I I14 and I06 will be moved simultaneously with the forepart 84 by the gear segment 98. Forward movement of the plates I54, I06 will uncover the recesses in which they are seated and to cover theserecesses thin cover plates H6 (Figs. 1 and 7) are attached to the rear portion 32 and extend between the rear ends of the slides and the rear part of the shoe form. The portion I55 (Fig. 4) of the plates I04, I06 which contacts the shoe upper lining adjacent to the top line and also the side sections of the rear portion 82 of the shoe form are sloped inwardly so that when an upper is pressed against The the sides of the shoe form1-(Figs'h5 .andfl); in the shaping operation I which .will ,subsequentlybe, described; the shoe-openinggwill be reduced:- In the illustrated machineuthe :rear. 113311352. of? the".

shoe;form andthe plates IEM .andJilB are .made of metal to facilitatethe applicationotheatto the top edges of a shoe. .aHowever, if itis felt desirable, the forepart 84. can also be made of metal.

ln treeing operations, it is the generalypractice for operators :to leave a shoe which-haspbeen cleaned onits shoeform to dry and :toswing that form to one side while they are operatingiupon av shoe mounted upon the other .shoe form. In accordance with oneof the featuresof this invention, shoe shapingmeans have. beeniprovided for pressingthe upper portion. of shoemppers 1.5;.

,uppersrthe counter will move backto its normal upright position carrying'the upper with it therei 20 so that the shoemayreadily ,be removed from I the form withoutdisturbing the shape; which has just been givento the shoe opening. It is to be against the heated Jshoe fonnawhilerthe shoe is inv the drying position, thus enabling the operator to -utilize this timefor a shoe.shapingaoperatiom This shoe shaping means :comprises 'axplatemlZIl (Figs. 1. and .2) that is mounted. onthe stud 28 and is bolted at. either end to. the flange 58 by bolts. I22, I24. .The plate I20 is! provided Willhuh ai -ins I26 and I21, each :of whichcarry. pressings pads I28, I30 at theirouter: ends disposed on 21,:-

either side of a shoe formwheniit is iYlult'S drying 1' position. Eachofthe'presser pads I 28, I 39] con-9.: sists of a rubber. backing member I'3I and a leather cover I324 As the construction of both of the arms is the same, only one ofsthem will be described and their corresponding. parts will the given the same reference numerals. The ypads I28 and I30 are mounted on levers. I33 (Fig.5)

which are pivoted on the end of the arm I 26 and,

are connected to the endsnof a cross-bar I36 .by

links I38. mediate its, ends is a rod Mil which extendsm through the arm I26 (Fig. 5) 311165.15 connected to;,a treadle. M2 by a treadlezzrod IM and abell crank I46 (Figs. 2 and 6), the lower end'of the 'treadle rod I44 being connected with the treadle.

I42 by a spring I48. The link Hill is urged in-an outward direction to hold the pads: I28 and; I136] away from each other by aspring I50 .(Fig. 1;) which is sleeved on the linkgl 4B between-can abutment I G'I formed on the inner end of the armJZfi (Fig. 6) and a collar I54 (Fig. l)" which .isfast to the link I42. "When the turret 30 isa-in the treeing position and the leg 38 in a shoe :"drying and pressingposition where .the;shoe.-form--on the leg 38 is between the pads I28 and 130.; These pads are moved into pressingengagement witha 1 shoe on the shoe form carried by the :leg 38 by depressing the treadle I42. are moved inwardly and upwardly bringing them against the shoe uppers with a wipingaction that presses the top portion of the upper lining against the heated inwardly sloping faces H15 of the shoe form. The wipingaction of the pads also rolls the top edge of the upper over the lining thereby I partially or wholly hiding itfrorn1view (Fig. 5). Heat from the shoe formwill speed the drying ofa shoe that has been dampened in the cleaning I operation and asit is concentr'atedalongthe top line of the sides of the shoe opening. thecon-v tact between that portionof the shoe. upperand,

the heated inwardly sloping faces I05 of the shoe form it will also have a shrinking. eifect on that portion ofthe shoe which will assist in the shapa ing operation. and tend to make the shoe opening take the shape of the shoeform. Appropriate latches I43 (Fig. 2) are provided on the benchr...-

for holding one or the other of the levers I 42 in.

--sion of the heel portions of the shoe forms and Pivoted to. the ;.cross-bar; I.36 inter-a.

Thepads I28. 936 i:

,qtheir downwardpositionwso as to hold the pads: 1,1; 1 pressedgagainst the shoe form. 1

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention,

line of the shoe. Another feature of the inven- ,tionllies in the shapeaofthe rear or heel section 82 of the shoe form which is made narrower than the opening of the shoe upper so that when the top portion of the upper. is pressed against the sides of the form-the lower portion of the heel section of the upper, which is reinforced by a counter, will be bent gradually inward ,(Fig. 5) Thus,,when the pads-.are moved away from the by widening the heel portion of the shoe opening understood, however, that the shape and dimen-.

also those, of the presser pads may be varied so that all or any desired part of the shoe upper, can be supported and pressed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The operation of the 1113611111615 as follows:

A forepart "84 of an appropriate size. is first selected and is slid overthe head 92 of the carrier ,Idil and is fastenedthereon by the latch 9E3, the connections being as shown, in Fig. 3.v A shoe is thentplaced upon the treeleg which is in the centralror, treeing position, that, is, in the position occupied by the leg 36 in Fig. .1;;and the lever 2'1 is depressed to expand theshoe form by actuating the control, system in the following manner. Downward movement of the lever 24 causes rotation of the lever 22 (Fig.2) which moves'the plunger 20 inwardly carrying the roller 52 andsleeve .50 inwardly with, it. thereb y compressing the spring 5 3 (Fig. 1) and through .it, moving the rod 6 and rack 4'1 inwardly;v movement of the rack i! in this direction will be trans-.

mittedtto. the carrier Hill and theiorepart 34 will be'moved forwardly to, expand the shoe form a desired'amount. The sideplates IM, tilt are moved with the forepart by the pin ,i M (Fig. 4) which :is carried by the gear egment 98 and is ,seatedgin recesses-II2 in the plates. shoe-form has been expanded, the shoe tree is ,After the rotatedabout its axis by the operator as. desired for the treeing operations and upon the completion of these operations the shoe islmoved to a horizontal position with the heel pointing toward wthe adjacent presser pads; This. is necessary.

because the shoe form is is shaped so that the sides "diverge outwardly from the heelnto the throat portion and the presser pads I28, It?) are arranged to receive the shoe form between them stop ill when the tree leg 38 will be in the treeing position where its shoegform M will be located between the presser pads I28 and I36. The appropriate treadle I42 will now be depressed to "move the pads against the sides of the shoe on the shoe form with a wiping action which presses The turret 3B is then swung I until the projection Mi on the turret engages the position formerly occupied by the tree leg 35 and i 65 the tree leg 3% will be moved to a shoe shaping I to hold the pads in pressing engagement with the shoe upper while a shoe which has been shaped on the other shoe form is being brushed, removed from the form and another shoe is placed upon the form and the appropriate treeing operations are carried out. Pressure from the pads will cause the shoe to take the shape of the shoe form which will result in reducing the width of the shoe opening and giving it a symmetrical appearance. The heat from the shoe forms will accelerate the drying of shoes which have been dampened in the preceding cleaning operation and the concentration of the heat in the area adjacent the shoe opening will have a shrinking effect on the area of the upper around the top line of the shoe which will tend to reduce the shoe opening and. will assist the pads I28, H30 in shaping the shoe opening. After the shoe treeing operations are completed on the shoe mounted on the tree leg 38, the presser pads I28, V38 will be released from engagement with the shoe on the tree leg 36, which is now dried out somewhat in addition to being shaped, and that leg will be swung back into the treeing position where the shoe will be brushed and removed from the shoe form. When either of the shoe trees is out of the central position, the shoe form is held in its expanded position by the engagement of the roller 52 with the flange it which prevents the forward movement of the roller 52 and its sleeve 50 that would permit a like movement of the rod 46 and the accompanying contraction of the shoe form.

While the turret is pivoted in the machine chosen to illustrate this invention, the use of the shoe shaping means disclosed herein is not limited to a machine of this type but it is contemplated that it may be used in conjunction with other forms of shoe tree mountings, such as those which are slidable or movable otherwise. All that is necessary in any event is that the shoe form be available to the shoe shaping means either before or after the treeing operations, preferably after.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a shoe treeing and shaping machine, a movably mounted support, spaced shoe forms mounted on the support for movement relatively thereto and also for movement with the support into and out of a treeing position, andv shoe pressing means disposed in the path of movement of the shoe forms and arranged for pressing engagement with a shoe form which is out of treeing position.

2. In a shoe treeing and shaping machine, spaced shoe forms, spaced pressing means differ ently spaced than the shoe forms and arranged for engagement with said shoe forms, the shoe forms and the presser means being arranged for relative movement whereby one of said forms is available for treeing operations when the other form is in pressing engagement with the shoe pressing means.

3. In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine, a pair of spaced shoe pressing means, a

pair of movably mounted spaced shoe forms ar-- ranged for movement into and out of engagement with said shoe pressing means, the spacing of .said shoe forms being different from that of the shoe pressing means whereby one of the shoe forms'is always available for treeing operations while the other form is in pressing engagement with the shoe pressing means.

4, In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine having a treeing position, a pair of spaced shoe forms pivoted to swing laterally, shoe pressing means located in the path of movement of said shoe forms on opposite sides of the treeing position, said shoe pressing means being spaced a different distance than the spacing of the shoe forms whereby one of the shoe forms is always available for treeing operations. when the other form is in pressing engagement with its adjacent shoe pressing means.

5. In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine, a movable support having spaced shoe forms mounted thereon, said support being arranged to move the shoe forms into and out of a treeing position, shoe pressing means on opposite sides of the treeing position and arranged in the path of movement of the shoe forms, each of said pressing means comprising a pair of normally spaced pressing members arranged to receive a shoe form between them, and means for forcing the presser members against the uppers of a shoe on that form. which is outof treeing position to cause it to take the shape of the shoe form.

6. In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine having a treeing position, shoe pressing means on opposite sides of the treeing position, a support mounted to move between said pressing means, a pair of spaced heated shoe forms mounted on the support for movement into and out of the shoe treeing position, the spacing of the shoe forms being such that when one of the shoe forms is in the treeing position the other shoe form is disposed for pressing engagement with one of the shoe pressing means whereby a shoe which has just been treed may be dried and shaped while treeing operations are being concomitantly carried out on a shoe on the other shoe form.

7. In. a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine, a shoe form mounted for movement between a treeing position and a shaping position, said shoe form also being mounted for movement while in the treeing position to facilitate the treeing operation, and shoe pressing means arranged for pressing engagement with a shoe on the shoe form when the shoe form is in the shaping position.

8. In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine having spaced treeing and shaping positions, a shoe form mounted for movement be tween the treeing position and the shaping position, and shoe pressing means mounted on the machine in the shaping position and arranged for movement into engagement with the upper of a shoe on the shoe form adjacent the foot receiving opening thereof when the shoe form is in the shaping position whereby a shoe which has been treed may simultaneously be dried and shaped.

9. In a shoe upper treeing and shaping machine, a movable support having a shoe form mounted thereon, said support being arranged to move the shoe form into and out of a treeing position, shoe pressing means offset from the treeing position and arranged in the path of movement of the shoe form, said pressing means comprising a pair of spaced pivoted presser members arranged to receive the shoe form between them, and means for rotating the presser members to bring them into wiping-engagement with the sides of a shoe on the shoe form thereby to press the upper against the form and roll the top edge of the shoe upper over the top of the lining.

10. In a shoe treeing and shaping machine, a

shoe form mounted for movement into and out of a treeing position, shoe pressing means spaced from the treeing position, said shoe pressing means being disposed in the path of movement of the shoe form and arranged for pressing engagement with the shoe form when it is out of treeing position, and means for heating said shoe form thereby to assistiin drying and shaping shoes which have been dampened in the treeing operations;

11. In a shoe upper treating machine having spaced treeing and upper shaping positions, a shoe form, a pivoted support for said shoe form arranged to move the formbetween the treeing and the upper shaping positions, said shoe form being adjustably mounted on the support so that its position can be changed while in the treeing position to present difierent surfaces of a shoe upper for treeing operations, and shoe pressing means arranged for engagement with a shoe on the shoe form when the form is in the upper shaping position. i 12. In a shoe upper treating machine having spaced treeing and upper shaping positions, a shoe form, a pivoted support for said shoe form arranged to move the form between the treeing and the upper shaping positions, said shoe form being mounted on the support to rotate about an axis extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of the support whereby the support can be adjusted while in the treeing position to present different surfaces of the upper of a shoe on the form for treeing operations, and shoe pressing means arranged for engagement with the shoe upper when the form is in the upper shaping position.

13. In a shoe treeing machine, a rotatable support having a shoe form mounted thereon for movement into and out of the treeing position, electrical heating means for the shoe form, said form being mounted on the support to rotate about an axis extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of the support, and connections including terminal means on the support for transmitting electricity to the heating means in all of the positions of adjustment of the shoe form.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13 wherein shoe pressing means are disposed in the path of movement of the shoe form and are arranged for pressing engagement with the shoe form when it is out of treeing position. i

15. In a shoe treeing and shaping machine having shoe pressing means, a tree leg mounted for movement between a treeing position and a shaping position where it is adapted to be engaged by the shoe pressing means, said tree leg embodying an expansible shoe form which comprises a heel part that is fixed relatively to the tree leg and an adjustable forepart, and mechanism for causing relative movement between the heel part and forepart.

16. In, a shoe shaping machine having shoe pressing means, an expansibleshoe form comprising a heel portion of heat conducting material, 1

and a forepart mounted for movement relatively to the heel portion, plates of terial arranged to engage the inner sides of a shoe on the form, said side plates being disposed in heat conducting relation to the heel portion, and means for heating the heat conducting portions of the shoe form thereby to apply heat to the sides and heel portion of a shoe on the form to facilitate the shoe shaping operations by elimiheat conducting mashoe pressing means.

hating wrinkles in the upper and causing the upper to conform more readily to the shoe form when the shoe pressing means is applied to a shoe on the shoe form.

1'7. In a shoe shaping machine an expansible shoe form comprising a heel portion of heat conducting material, a forepart slidably mounted on the body of theshoe form, side plates also of heat conducting material coupled to the forepart and arranged-to engage the inner sides of a shoe on the form adjacent the top opening thereof, bridging means of heat conducting material on the shoe form for bridging the gap formed between the side pieces and the'heel portion upon relative movement between those members, and means for heating the sides, bridging means and heel portion of the shoe form adjacent to the top opening of a shoe on the shoe form thereby to facilitate the shoe shaping operation.

18. In a shoe treeing and shaping machine having shoe pressing means, a shoe form mounted for movement between a treeingposition and a shaping position where it is adapted to be engaged by the shoe pressing means, said shoe form having inwardly sloping sides in the area adjacent the foot-receiving opening of a shoe placed thereon, and means for causing pressing engagement between the shoe pressing means and the shoe form thereby to force the shoe upper against the inwardly sloping sides of the form to reduce the width of the shoe opening.

19. A machine for shaping shoe uppers comprising a pair of presser members, a heated shoe form having a narrow heel portion and inwardly sloping sides which diverge from the heel portion to the throat portion, said shoe form being mounted for movement into a position between the presser members, and means for forcing the presser members against the upper of a shoe on the form to press the same against the inwardly sloping sides of the heated form to reduce the shoe opening.

20. A machine as defined in claim 13 wherein the shoe form is expansible and the heel portion thereof is relatively narrow and has a rear portion which slopes abruptly downwardly and forwardly of a shoe thereon whereby, upon the completion of a pressing operation, the form may be collapsed and removed from a shoe without disturning its shape.

21. In a, machine for shaping shoe uppers having shoe pressing means, a heated shoe form comprising a heel portion and a forepart slidably mounted on the heel part, said heel portion having inwardly and upwardly sloping sides of heat conducting withthe top portion of the upper of a shoe placed thereon, the sloping sides of the heel section extending part way to the throat portion of the shoe form, side plates coupled with the forepart 'and slidably mounted on said heel portion, the

side plates having inwardly sloping sides of heat conducting material also disposed for engagement with the top portion of the upper of a shoe on the form, said side plates extending from the throat section back toward the heel portion, and means for heatingthe inwardlyisloping side por tions of the shoe form thereby to facilitate the shoe shaping operations in the top portion of the upper of a shoe pressed thereagainst by the HARRY E. DOW.

material disposed for engagement 

